Novelty chest and reference cards



P" 1, 1958 c. R. BARBIN NOVELTY CHEST AND REFERENCE CARDS Filed Dec. 18, 1956 i I N V EN TOR. Chi 25mm:

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Application December 18, 1956, Serial No. 629,116

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-122) This invention relates to a novelty chest and reference cards therefore.

The object of the invention is to provide a chest and cards therefore whereby the assembly can be used as a calendar or remainder of future or past events.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelty chest which is adapted to have reference cards associated therewith whereby the assembly can be readily used to remind the user of future events or dates and whereby there is provided a plurality of interchangeable cards so that the device can be used over and over again without the necessity of purchasing additional equipment or parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelty chest and reference cards which are extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are. used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure l is a top plan view of the chest, constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view showing the cards positioned in the operative position on the chest or housing, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the removable cover, and with parts broken away.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates a chest or housing which can be made of any suitable material and in any desired shape or size. The housing 16 includes a bottom wall 11, spaced parallel vertically disposed end walls 12, and spaced apart side or front and rear walls 14. Depending from the bottom wall 11 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith is a rib 13, and due to the provision of the rib 13, the housing 10 will be supported in an inclined position as shownin Figure 2 so that the various reference cards can be more readily observed as when the device is being used as a calendar.

The inner portions of the side walls 14 are provided with cutouts or grooves 15, and a cover 16 is slidably mounted in the grooves 15 so that by moving the cover 16 from the solid line position shown in Figure l to the broken line position, the interior of the housing can be exposed so that the various cards or other material can be readily placed therein or removed therefrom. For facilitating the manual movement of the cover 16, there is provided in the cover 16 a finger engaging recess 17, and the outer edge portions of the cover 16 are beveled as at 18 for engagement with the grooves 15.

Associated with each wall 14 is a supporting means, and the supporting means includes a pair of body members 21 which are arranged adjacent the ends of the walls 14 and which are secured thereto or formed integral United States Patent C) Patented Apr.i1, 1958 therewith. Each body member 21 includes a flange 27 which coacts with the adjacent portion of the wall 14 to define a slot 22. Arranged adjacent the lower portion of each slot 22 is a shoulder 23, and end portions of the cards 19 are adapted to be received in the slots 22 so that the shoulders 23 will support the cards 19. Extending inwardly from each body member 21 is a lip 24 which coacts with the adjacent portion of the wall 14 to define a slot 25, and the slot 25 is adapted to receive end portions of the cards 20. A shoulder 26 is arranged adjacent the lower ends of each wall 14, and the shoulders 26 serve to support the cards 20 when the cards are in the slots 25.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a novelty chest and reference cards which will permit the user to maintain accurate and efficient records of future or past events. In use, the cover 16 can be removed by arranging the finger in engagement with the recess 17 and then sliding the cover 16'from.

the solid line position shown in Figure l to the broken line position shown in Figure 1 whereby access can be made to the interior of the housing 10. The cards 19 and 20 which are not being used as well as any other necessary material can be conveniently stored or arranged in the interior of the housing 10 as shown in Figure 2. The cards 19 and 29 are adapted to have numerals or suitable indicia or markings thereon as later described in this application. When a particular card 19 or Ztlis to be used, it is removed from the interior of thehousing 10, and then the cover 16 is replaced. The smaller card 20 is positioned in the lowermost position so that the end portions of the card 26 are received in the slots 25, and this card is supported by the shoulder 26 as for example as shown in Figure 3. The cards 20 may have days of the week printed thereon.

The other card 19 which is larger than the card 20 is adapted to have its end portion positioned in the slots 22, and the flanges 27 define the slots 22 and serve to retain the cards 19 in place. The shoulders 23 engage and support the lower edges of the cards 19 so that the cards 19 will be maintained in their proper position. The cards 19 may be provided with a plurality of numbered squares thereon as shown in Figure 3, and these numbered squares correspond to the days of the month, and each card 19 may further be provided with the name of the month thereon, as for example, as shown in Figure 3, the word January appears. The end portions of the cards 19 may be left blank. After a particular card 19 or 20 has served its purpose and after a particular month has expired, such cards can be removed from the supporting means and placed in the housing 10 and replaced by other cards depending upon the particular month or week in which the assembly is being used. Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a convenient calendar and due to the provision of the rib 13, the housing 10 is maintained in an inclined position so that the cards 19 and 20 on the outside of the housing can be readily observed. It is to be noted that the supporting means are provided adjacent the outer surface of each wall 14 so that the cards can be observed from either side of the housing. The slots 22 are defined by the flanges 27 which extend inwardly from the body members 21.

When the device is being used, one small card 20 is used with each large card 19 while the remaining cards are positioned inside of the housing. The rear surface of the cards 19 may be provided with spaces whereby suitable indicia can be arranged thereon. The parts can be made of any suitable material and in any desired shape or size. The slots are formed in the body members to accommodate the longer cards 19 as well as the shorter cards 20, and the shoulders 23 act as stops for the cards 19. The sh'ou1der-Z6 acts as a stop for the cards 20. As shown in .Eigure 2, the housing -10 im-maintained tilted by means of the rib 1-3 so that the cards can be more readily observed. As aspecificexample of, the use of the-device, the following is given. "Theremay be twelve of thereference cards 19'Which may 'be made of'any suitable mate'riahandthese cards may have any suitable size, as for example they may be approximately 2 /2 inches by'4 /2 inches. Each of the cards 19 maybe desig'nat-ed for each month of the year, and a inch margin may be arranged on each end of the cards and the parts may be'ruled oil in a plurality of squares to correspond to the days of the months and numerals are printed in the squares. For example, the February card will have twenty-nine numbered "squares and'thehumbercne starts in the upper left corner'of each'card. The back of each card 19 is adapted to have ruled'lines which may be spaced apart adesired distance.

Fourteen of the 's'ma'ller'cards 20may be provided, and these cards may also have'a small border adjacent each end and a plurality of squares are provided on each card 20. The cards 20 may have the day ofthe week in the various squares as shownin Figure 3, wherein' the word Sunday indicated by the letters Sun appears at the left of the card. These twelve large and fourteen small cards may .be protected with transparent covers or envelopes which may be made of any suitable material such as'a transparent plastic. When the cards arein the housing 10, any suitable means'can be provided for retaining the cards together, as for example, rubber bands can be used. Furthermore, a suitable container of assorted gold, silver and blue embossed gummed stars may be positioned within the housing 18 so that such stars can be readily arranged on the cards when a particular day is to be remembered or emphasized. By placing transparent covers over the cards, damage or wear and tearto the cards will be minimized or prevented. The stars could be used to remind a person of birthdays, anniversaries, financial obligations, or days of mourning. For-nonpermanent dates, the previously mentioned stars can be stuck lightly to the transparent covers over aparticular numeral so that such stars can be' later removed. To start the cards in the chest, January 1, 1956 starting on Sunday, a small card is placed in the lower slot with Sunday on the left end of the small card, and with the January reference card 19 in the upper position. 'With February 1, starting on Wednesday, the small card starting with Wednesday inthe left end of the small card-isplace'd in the lower position and theFebruary reference card is placed on top. At the end of the current month of January, the cards are removed from one side of the housing and the procedure is repeated and by-turning the housing around for example, February can-become the current month with March on the back of the housing and by repeating this procedure the cards serve the continuous calendar year-after year or-foras long a time as the cards remain useful. As shown in'Figure 3, the upper portions of the cards 19 extend above the top of the housing so that they can be easily lifted from their slot as when the material on the back of the card is to be reviewed. When the current card is in use, the dates on the next current card on the back of the housing are readily observed so that the person is alerted before the current card is terminated.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a novelty chest which is provided with reference cards and stars or thelike that can be properly afiixed so that a person will not havea tendency totorgetl important dates and the assembly will also act or serve as a continuous walls, said support means comprising a pair of spaced all) apart body members secured to each of said sidewalls and each body member including a vertically disposed flange defining a slot, there beingv shoulders inthe lower portions of said slots, said slots adapted to receive end portions of indicia bearing cards therein, and lips-extending inwardly from said body members-adjacent said slot and said lips defining slots for'receiving end portions .of other indicia bearing cards.

2. The structure as defined in claim land further in cluding a rib arranged centrally ofsaid bottom wall and secured thereto and said rib depending from said bottom wall for maintaining the housing in a tilted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

